PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Walter (ranked 8543 p4p, 361 weight class) and Noel Slager (ranked 8696 p4p, 366 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Slager's choice of entrance music: Best UFC entrance of all time!!!. Noel Slager has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Walter
vs
Slager

150 cm
23
130 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

154 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Walter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Noel Slager!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Walter clinches with his opponent.

Walter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Slager's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Slager's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Walter.

Slager sneaks out the side door and pushes Walter away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Slager throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Walter's waist but Walter gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Slager off to one side.
Slager looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Slager dives in and grabs Walter's left leg, looking for a takedown. Walter pushes down on Slager's head and hops out.
Walter wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
James Walter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noel Slager.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Walter shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Slager napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Slager is looking to regain half guard here but Walter keeps moving and retains side control.
Walter knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Slager on the ground.

Walter decides to stand back up.
Slager takes a body punch but keeps moving.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Slager.
Walter throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Slager shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Walter pinned against the ropes. Walter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Slager is defended easily by Walter.
Slager looks winded!
Walter scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Slager doesn't seem bothered though.
Slager closes this distance looking for a takedown but Walter circles away.

Walter rushes Slager and presses him up against the ropes.

Walter is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Slager can't fight it off and eventually Walter manages to take the fight to the floor. Slager looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Slager keeping full guard, as Walter tries to pass.
Walter's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Slager can't keep his opponent in guard - Walter advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slager is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Walter's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Walter's back!
Slager not allowing Walter to control his hands.
Walter tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Walter bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slager has momentary wrist control but Walter slips an elbow through the middle.

Walter decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Slager, up you get!

Walter closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Slager is looking for a sweep.
Walter is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Slager will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Walter wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Slager, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slager sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Walter controlling the action here.
Slager should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Slager looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Slager wants to get back to full guard.
Walter working over Slager with some ground and pound. Slager looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Walter is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Slager has managed to free his arm - good work.
Slager is looking to control Walter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Slager avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Walter takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Slager tries to roll over but Walter keeps him under control.
Walter keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Slager is looking for a sweep. Walter is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Walter is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Slager sees it coming and defends easily.
Slager is looking to improve his position.
Slager is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Walter jumps into side control!
Slager is looking for a sweep.
Slager looks to move to half guard but instead Walter has passed into mount! Damn!
Walter trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Walter dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Walter shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Slager is trying to defend but Walter finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Slager kicks Walter off and gets back to his feet.

Walter shoots in and bounces Slager off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

Slager is scooting his butt against the ropes and has managed to get back to his feet. Walter presses him back against the ropes, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Walter tightens his grip and picks Slager up, before dumping him to the ground. Slager manages to land in guard.
Walter keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Slager's head.
Slager scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Walter stopping the sweep attempt from Slager.
Slager has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Walter has passed into side control.
Slager is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walter lands an elbow.

Walter decides to stand back up. Walter steps back and let's Slager get back to his feet.

Walter gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Slager is trying to drag Walter to the mat but Walter just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Slager has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Slager fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Slager wants to break the clinch but can't.
Slager using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Walter has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Slager is breathing heavily.

Walter manages to break the clinch.

Walter gets a double leg takedown into Slager's guard.
Walter wants to control from the top but Slager keeps moving.
Walter connects with a couple of short punches.

Walter stands and steps away. Slager gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Slager fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Walter, pushing him back against the ropes.

Walter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Slager clinches with his opponent.

Walter wants the takedown. Slager is fighting it off but Walter persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Slager's guard against the ropes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Slager looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Walter scoring with punches to the head and body.

Slager escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Walter gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Walter cracks Slager with a solid left hand.

Walter decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
James Walter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Walter drives through with a takedown into Slager's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Walter trying to control but Slager is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walter is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Slager wants to sweep but no luck.

Walter gets to his feet - Slager follows without any prompting.
Slager shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Walter pinned against the ropes. Walter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
James Walter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noel Slager.
Slager fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Slager looks to throw a body kick

so Walter counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Walter trying to control but Slager is working from the bottom.
Walter is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slager keeping moving, preventing Walter from controlling successfully.

Slager is working an open guard so Walter takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Slager shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Walter but Walter pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Walter scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Walter wants to control but Slager is keeping him busy.

Walter wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Slager, who protects the arm well.
Walter cracks Slager with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Walter dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Slager changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Walter tries to avoid it but Slager manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Walter to the ground. Walter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Walter fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Walter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Slager is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Walter scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Walter is looking to take a break and control but Slager is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Walter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Slager can do to turn this around?
Walter working Slager over with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slager is looking to improve his position.
Slager is refusing to be controlled, as Walter sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walter tries to pass to full mount but Slager defends it.
Ground and pound from Walter.

Walter seems to be working for a kimura but Slager defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Walter trying to mount his opponent but Slager defends it.
Slager is trying to get back to full guard.
Walter wants to control but Slager is keeping him busy.
Slager is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Walter's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Walter's back!

Slager tightening his grip on Walter, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walter is trying to stand back up.
Slager gets his hands free as Walter looks to control.

Slager is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Walter defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Slager patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Walter trying to control but not successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slager throwing sloppy strikes.
Walter trying to control the hands but Slager breaks the grip.
Walter trying to get back to his feet but Slager is in full control for now.
Walter avoids the strikes from Slager.
You can see the frustration on Walter's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Slager is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Walter is defending well though. Slager let's go of the attempt for now.
Walter is trying to get back to his feet but Slager has full control of the position and if anything, Walter has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Slager looking to break Walter's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Walter remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Slager will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Slager controlling well, preventing Walter from escaping the position.
Noel Slager has got the better of the ground game so far.
Slager punches the canvas rather than the man.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Slager.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Walter right now.

Walter won't enjoy being in this position. Slager looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Walter is tapping - it's over boys! Slager picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Noel Slager!
Noel Slager seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.